Paris' Best Coffee
Thankfully, specialty coffee in Paris - a concept that was once non-existent - is now taking the city by storm. In fact, the Paris coffee scene is truly exploding…Much to the chagrin of certain grumpy locals who like to let us know where the “real” coffee can be found in the Instagram comments, specialty coffee is, in fact, enjoyed by a host of “real Parisians” and tourists alike. Why? Because like wine, really good coffee is worth paying a little more for. It helps that specialty coffee shops also tend to have a top notch aesthetic, passionate staff, happy patrons, and good taste in food and wine themselves.
Coffee Culture In Paris
While famous for its café culture, Paris has never been the coffee capital of the world. It’s been a place for a classic, slightly underwhelming espresso from the ever-sad Cafés Richard, and of course that’s part of its charm. The smell of burnt coffee and cigarette smoke is Proustian: for those of us that moved here from abroad, it’s a scent that will forever take us back to those first few months in the city.
Here at Paris in My Pocket… we love a speciality coffee. Coffee has been a recurring theme in our content since our recent launch, and a much bigger theme in our founder, Jay Swanson’s content for nearly a decade.
He’s a specialty coffee connoisseur, discovering what feels like a new place every week. And you can have access to all of that information as well if you check out our guide to Paris. There you’ll find over 100 places to grab a quality coffee (119 as of the day we publish this!) - some are specifically coffee roasters, and others are cafés that take coffee seriously.
So today, we’re taking you on a tour of some of the best roasters in Paris. These guys not only roast and have cafés across the city, but they supply lots of other cafés with the most delicious beans around. It was hard to choose - but we know we’ll circle back to this subject soon enough.
How To Order Coffee In Paris?
Here are some helpful tips to ordering coffee in Paris.
The Language
To order in French, you can say the classic-but-slightly-over-polite : Je voudrais….
You can also say : Je vais prendre or je prendre, which is essentially “I’ll take”. Just be sure to add that s’il vous plâit!
The Menu
une café - This will get you an espresso
filtre/batch - This will get you a mug of coffee
americano - This is an expresso with hot water to elongate it
noisette/cortado - this is a shot of espresso with a little bit of milk
Note: If you’re at a specialty coffeeshop, chances are you’ll see items like cappuccino, flat white, and more. At regular french cafés, these won’t be on offer. In those instances you’ll want to oder a café crème… and hope the milk isn’t burnt. Ah, Parisian coffee!
KB Coffee Roasters
KB is one of the OG coffee roasters in the city, and one of our favorite coffee shops in Paris. It’s hard to believe Jay’s been coming here for almost a decade! They’re one of the best, if not the best roaster in Paris… but maybe we’re biased from our years of sitting on the terrace, chatting with friends, or having work meetings. You can find them in the Pigalle district, also one of our favorite areas of the city. KB has delicious pastries and some great tartines for lunch, as well as a massive terrace basked in afternoon sun.
KB also opened Back in Black near Bastille, for those of you looking to stay a little closer to the river. Back in Black has amazing brunches and lots more food options but, alas, no terrace. However it’s here that KB does all of their roasting and you can see them in action if you walk to the back of the shop. It’s great to see local coffee roasting in action.
Did You Know?
If you want to make your own coffee at home, but don’t have a grinder, pretty much all of these places will grind the beans for you. You’ll just need to let them know for which brewing system and they’ll set the proper grind. Voilà!
Cafe Nuances
Café Nuances is a more recent addition to the coffee roasting scene in Paris, popping up in neighborhoods that needed good coffee, and quickly expanding! It’s a good cup of coffee. We absolutely love it. If you’re in the area, don’t miss out on a cup of their filter (usually a bit of a lighter roast), and some tasty, tasty pastries and cookies.
Do note: none of their locations have a toilet, and the lighting can be a little harsh. If you’re looking for a cozy vibe, this might not be the place for you. However, if you’re looking for a pick-me-up to go while wandering the streets, this would be the perfect choice. Also, they have shops in the 1st, 6th, and 8th arrondissements, so you’ve got options.
Partisan
Partisan is what we describe as Paris’ training roaster, as they offer specialty and Italian (read: darker roast) blends, and the classic French taste for coffee tends to lean very dark. It’s in a really great location bridging the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements (which are really hopping!). It will sort you out for the energy you need for the rest of the day wandering Paris. The filter at Partisan will feel more like home if you’re used to the strong American cups o’ jo, but they also have plenty of other options, plus a whole wall of the shop opens up to let the air in during the warmer months. It’s truly delightful. Be sure to try their baked goods, and then wander down into le Marais.
You’ll also find Terres de Café in the Marais, and all over town. They’re a stellar roaster as well, and you can’t go wrong if you swing into one of their shops either.
Café Coutume
With several locations across the city now, and providing coffee to many smaller independent shops, you’re sure to run into Café Coutume’s beans while you’re here. Coutume was also one of the first widespread roasters in this city. Their coffee is delightful, mild, warming - Coutume is a Parisian classic. Plus, they have a shop not too, too far from the Eiffel Tower. Grab a coffee to go and then wander that direction through the Haussmanian buildings.
Pro Tip!
If you’re on the Western side of Paris and looking for a great place to pick up some tasty souvenirs for friends and family, be sure to check out la grande épicerie. Café Coutume has a shop on the second floor where you can take a break or browse the teas. And don’t forget - coffee beans make an amazing souvenir for the coffee lovers in your life!
If you’re looking for more tips like this, check out our guide. Not only do we share hundreds of recommendations on where to eat, but we’ve got plenty of other tips and tricks for navigating Paris.
The Beans on Fire
The Beans on Fire has also been around for a long time, but they do things a little differently - they’re a collective, which means a variety of people come to roast here, and you can find selections of these at their coffee shops. You’ll find some scrumptious cookies, pastries, and scones.
Do note: that their Montmartre location has indoor seating, but their Voltaire location only has outdoor seating - making it perfect for a spring or summer afternoon.
Hexagone
Another great roaster a bit farther out of central Paris, but one that somehow we keep coming back to - is Hexagone, in the 14th. This is a great place for a coffee near-ish to Montparnasse, which is classically in a bit of a dead zone. Hexagone’s coffee is nuanced and filled with flavor. As always, we recommend grabbing a filter so you can taste the subtlety of each sip.
Pro Tip!
The word for Roaster is Torréfacteur in French, so if you see that in a coffee shop’s description, they probably roast their own beans. Otherwise they might list their torréfacteur du jour or their roaster of the day.
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And of course, get many, many more recommendations out guide to Paris here. We’re here to give you a great trip to Paris. Plus, it’s always up to date, as we’re constantly adding new places or removing others. If you’re a foodie like this team is, or like to find amazing places off the beaten path, this guide is made for you. Any questions? Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We'll leave you with this mouthwatering photo of a flat white.
